Buffer.



TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. ULLRICH, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

BUFFER.

ence being had to the accompanying drawings. l

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvementsA in buffers and has for its primary object to provide a buffer for bowlin balls.

Anot er object is to provide a device of this character which may be of simple construction and which may be incorporated in the postat the end of the runway for the bowling balls to protect said balls and post.

A further object is to provide' a device of this character which will beof improved and simplified construction and operation and composed of the minimum number of partsl and which will also include means for regulating and arresting the operation of the buffer. A

A still further object is to provide a device of this character in which compression of the shock absorbing spring will be limited by the air within the cylinder in which the hollow pisto-n reciprocates, a check valve being provided to control and regulate the escape of air from said cylinder.

AJ still further object is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character and increase the ei'iciencythereof, without materially increasing the costvof manufacture of the same.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompany'ing drawings, in which, y

Figure 1 1s a fragmentary elevational view of my complete device; Fig. `2 is an enlarged elevational view with the post within which the device is positioned, in section; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the usual post positioned at the end of the runway-.2 for the bowling balls 3. The cylinder 4 extends transversely through the post 1 and is se- Speciication oi Letters Patent.

Application led December 29, l1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial N o. 809,342.

cured in position by suitable securing members 5 engaged through the perforations 6 ofthe annular flange 7 atthe outer end of said cylinder l and engaged against the outer face of the post 1. y

Adapted for reciprocation in the cylinder 4, is the hollow piston 8 and said piston is reslliently retained inl its outermost position by the helical spring 9 which has one end secured to the inner end of the cylinder 4 while its opposite end is secured to the outer closed end of the piston 8, it being understood that said piston 8 has the extension of head 10 formed on its outer face with the solid buffer 11 formed thereon, said buifer 11 being preferably formed of solid rubber or other similar material-and having a cover`12 of leather or the like. The cylinder 4 has an air inlet opening 13 through which air may enter said cylinder when the piston 8 is -in its outermost position, it being understood that the air inlet opening 13 isin alinement with the opening 14 through the post 1.

Threaded in the inner end of the cylinder 4 and projecting outwardly from said end,

is a check valve casing 14 which has the valve seat 15 formed adjacent its inner end,

against which the ball check valve 1G is resiliently retained by the helical spring 17.

The outer end of the helical 'spring 17 bears against the removable cap. 18 which is threaded upon the outer end of said valve casing 14, said cap 18 being provided with an air escape opening 19, whereby air from check valve 16 and out to the surrounding atmosphere through said air escape opening 19, upon inward movement of the piston 8 causedby engagement of the bowling balls 3 with the covered solid buffer 11 secured upon the outer end of said piston 8. It will be seen that owing tothe position of the air inlet opening 13, as vsoon as the piston 8 is` forced inwardly, it will cover said opening the cylinder 4 may be forced past the ball and prevent the entrance of additional air l to the cylinder 4, said inward movement of the piston 8 also serving to compress the air within said piston and the cylinder 4 and force the same past the ball check valve` 16 and out through theair escape opening 19, it being understood. that the helical spring 17 is compressed as the ball check valve 16 is unseated to allow the compressed The tension of the air to pass the same. spring 17, however, may be readily adjusted by movement of the cap 18 in the proper direction upon the outer end of the valve casing 14, thereby regulating and controlling'the escape of air from the cylinder 4: and, as a result, varying the resistance offered by the air within said cylinder 4 and piston 8 against the action of the helical spring 9. y

Vhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of "the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

lVhat I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising the combination with a post, of a cylinder positioned transversely in said post and having an outwardly directed flange at its outer end, means engaged through said flange for securing the cylinder in position, av piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, means for resiliently retaining the piston in its outermost,position, a buffer'v mounted upon the outer lend of said piston,

said cylinder having an air inlet opening, whereby air may enter the same when said piston is in its outermost position, said post being provided with an air inlet opening in alinement with the air inlet4 opening of the cylinder, a valve casing projecting from the closed end of the cylinder, a valve in said valve casing, a cap adjustaloly mounted on the outer end of the valve casing and provided with an air escape opening, said valve casing having communication with the cylinder, and means for vresiliently retaining said valve in closed position, said piston being adapted, upon inward movement, to compress the air within said cylinder, said cap being adapted t'o be adjusted to control t-he escape of air from the chamber through the valve casing.

2. A device of the class described compris ing the combination with a post positioned at the end of a runway and having a transverse opening, of a cylinder engaged in said opening, means for securing the cylinder in position, the outer end of said cylinder bein o en a hollow iston en affedv in said cylinder and projecting from the same, said piston having its outer end closed, a buer carried on said outer closed end of the piston, a spring positioned in said cylinder' and piston and engaged against the opposite closed ends of said cylinder and piston to resiliently retain the piston in its` outermost position, said cylinder being provided with an air inlet opening, whereby air may enter said cylinder when the piston is in its outermost position, said piston being adapted to be forced inwardly -by engagement with the bul'er of movable members on the runway, a valve casing projecting from the inner end of the cylinder, a valve seatformed in said casing, a valve engaged with said seat, a cap adjustably mounted upon the outer end of the casing, said cap being provided with an air escape opening, and a spring positioned in said casing and having one end bearing against the cap while its opposite end bears against the .valve to resiliently retain the same in engagement with the valve seat. A

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A.v ULLRICH. 

